50 best photos from Genesee County's first day of football practice

Some teams took the weight room on Monday, Aug. 12, while others sprinted onto the field as Flint-area football teams began practices for the 2019 high school season. No matter where each practiced, the mission was clear: to be better for the first game just weeks away.

Multimedia Specialist Jake May trekked across Genesee County to document six teams on the first day, including New Lothrop, Montrose, Flushing, Beecher, Flint and Carman-Ainsworth.

Take a look through these photos -- a curation of the best from each team listed on their first day of practice.

Jake May | MLive.com

Carman-Ainsworth junior wide receiver Jaheem Billingsley looks game-ready with an intimidating visor during the first day of football practice in Michigan on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 at Carman-Ainsworth High School in Flint Township. (Jake May | MLive.com)

Jake May | MLive.com

Montrose offensive and defensive linemen line up to square off against one another during the first day of football practice in Michigan on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 at Hill-McCloy High School in Montrose. (Jake May | MLive.com)

Jake May | MLive.com

Flint junior Ray Lee clinches his teeth as he pushes through for his twelfth rep while bencing 185 pounds, all while a circle of his teammates cheer him on in the weight room during the first day of football practice in Michigan on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 at Southwestern Classic Academy in Flint. "Building strength in the weight room builds character. It builds mental toughness. If we can push these extra reps in here, we can do the same thing on the field," Lee said. "We'll dig better. We'll cut better. We'll have stamina." (Jake May | MLive.com)

Jake May | MLive.com

Julius Garza, a New Lothrop junior wide receiver and outside linebacker, jogs in place with the ball as he practices hands transitioning to improve ball-handling skills during the first day of football practice in Michigan on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 at New Lothrop High School. (Jake May | MLive.com)

Jake May | MLive.com

Flushing junior Sebastian Natzke dog crawls as he works his way through a large figure-eight agility strentghening course during the first day of football practice in Michigan on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 at Flushing High School. (Jake May | MLive.com)